Native Reptiles 



Reptiles may be defined as cold-blooded (their blood temperature 

 changes with air temperature), backboned animals which breathe 

 by means of lungs and are usually covered by scales or body plates. 

 This group includes the snakes, lizards, and turtles. One Michigan 

 species, the Soft Shelled Turtle {Amyda spinifer), lacks a covering 

 of scales or bony plates. 



In form, the snake is a long cylinder which tapers toward the 

 tail end. In our species there is not even a suggestion of limbs. 



Lizards have tapering bodies, usually not so long in proportion 

 as in the snakes, and ordinarily have four legs. However, certain 

 legless forms exist. They are often confused with salamanders, but 

 can be readily distinguished from them because they do not have 

 the scaleless, moist skins of the salamanders, and since they are 

 often found lying in the sun their scaly skins feel dry and relatively 



warm. 



Turtles have a more or less bony shell forming a roof over their 

 backs and are well known to everyone. 



SNAKES 



The true water snakes are found in or near the water and when full 

 grown are mud brown. They are often called "moccasins" and con- 

 sidered poisonous by those who know nothing about snakes. Since 

 they are quite savage when held and will bite to the best of their 

 ability, they themselves seem to enjoy this reputation. Actually, 

 thev are not at all poisonous and can inflict no more than a few 

 surface scratches. However, it is well to disinfect wounds made 

 by them. 



Although the garter snakes are not generally known to be 

 aquatic in habit, they are quite as much so as many of the frogs. 

 The Common Garter Snake, the Ribbon Snake, and Butler's Garter 

 Snake are increasingly aquatic in the order given, the last being 

 found living under the same conditions as the true water snakes 

 (Natrix). 



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